Frequently Asked Questions

Over the past several years, we have noticed there are questions that come up frequently when we speak at events or engage in conversations online, so we've created this page for Ashley to answer your questions with honesty and transparency. We hope you find the answers you are looking for here. If your answer can't be found on our website, don't hesitate to contact us.

Can I nominate someone I know for a session?

Because of the sensitive nature of these sessions, we request that the person or caregiver of the person facing a the terminal diagnosis be the one to apply for the session. HOWEVER, we offer gorgeous gift certificates that you can request to "gift a session" to someone facing a terminal diagnosis. It's a beautiful way to let them know you care and want to help them preserve memories while avoiding an awkward conversation if you don't know how to tell them about Love Not Lost.

How do people learn about Love Not Lost to get a session?

People hear about Love Not Lost through the gift certificates we mentioned above, media & press, online searches, events, referrals from past recipients, hospice & hospital partnerships, and even social media sharing.

Why do you deliver a book instead of digital images?

We believe the tangible photos are a critical tool in the grieving process. Not only do they create a physical space for a person to grieve, free of judgement, fear, and expectations, but they also allow someone to physically hold their loved one even when they are no longer here.

These photos are meant to be enjoyed, and we found the book allows people to share them in a beautiful way that allows for a physical and emotional connection you don't get with digital images. Each book is hand-crafted by Azura Albums to deliver the highest quality to the families we serve and last through the generations.

Of course, we deliver the digital images and make sure they have an online gallery (thanks to our partner, ShootProof) to easily share the digital versions with friends and family too.

Do you have any restrictions or limitations to the people you serve?

So long as the individual is facing a terminal diagnosis, we will consider them for a Love Not Lost session regardless of age or illness.

We are currently serving the state of Georgia with a limited number of out-of-state sessions each year. We are working to raise funds to help us grow to new cities across the nation. If you know of grants we would qualify for or companies who would be interested in corporate partnerships, please let us know!

What do you do for a mom who is pregnant with a baby who is terminally ill?

In line with our mission to celebrate life and support people in grief, we offer a maternity session to create memories with the baby while he or she is still alive and moving. During maternity sessions, we often capture family members interacting with the baby and sometimes capture the reaction of parents or siblings when the baby moves, immortalizing that moment of joy and delight. Moms have told us over and over how grateful they are to have these sessions and how much comfort it can bring after their baby is gone.

If a mom is looking for birth or post-life sessions, we refer people to NILMDTS, an organization already partnered with hospitals around the nation specialized in this type of session.

If I am a photographer, but Love Not Lost hasn't come to my city yet, how can I be involved?

This is the number one question we get from photographers! We are incredibly grateful there are so many awesome, talented people who want to help. If we are not currently operating in your city, here are a few ways to still be involved with Love Not Lost:

Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the website to be the first to know about upcoming events, new initiatives, and new cities we will be serving

Invite others to help you love it forward by setting up a give back model with your photography business. Not only will it feel good to give back, but your clients will love being able to love it forward by having a portion of their session help preserve memories for other people who need it.

Be a cheerleader and follow us on social media. You can help share our story and let us know if you have ideas to help get the word out about Love Not Lost.

Make connections and introductions! If you know of a great podcast we could be a guest on, or know of a grant we might qualify for, or maybe even know of a conference we could speak at or have a booth, tell us!

The more people who help us, the faster we can grow to serve your city!

How much does a session cost?

Our commitment is to ensure that both the session and tangible artwork we give are always free of charge to the families we serve.

We get this question a lot from donors who want to know how much it would be to sponsor a session, and honestly, it's hard to quantify, but we are working on it.

We have travel sessions (which greatly increase the cost of a session due to flights, rental cars, etc.), but we are working on scaling those down and focusing on our local programs this year, which will bring our average amount down significantly. Once we get into our rhythm of local sessions in Atlanta, we will update this page with a hard number for you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Are you a legit nonprofit?

Yes. We have a 501c3 approval from the IRS and you can find our Guidestar profile online, which we are continually working to update. Our intention is to serve as many people as we possibly can, and we rely on our generous supporters to make that possible.

Be The First To Know - Subscribe Now

Join our email list to get a digital “You’re Not Alone” empathy card, exclusive updates on Love Not Lost, including what city we're serving next, upcoming events, and stories you won't find anywhere else.